Today was another day of terra cotta fun.
I made a couple long trays last week to fulfill a commission.
And as those are drying, I started making more pieces to help “fill the kiln.”
I can’t stand firing an “unpacked” kiln. I couldn’t bear to fire “just” the trays!
So today I worked on making some terra cotta flower planters. Textured on
all sides of the boxes… who wants a “normal” flower pot?!… NO ONE, that’s who!!!

And while I was working in the studio… playing with terra cotta… and textures…
I also spent several hours with several episodes of “LOST” Season Two!!! I’m rewatching
the entire series. Hoping to see if there were “little hints” along the way… and if there are
any other connections that make more sense now that we all know how is ended! I’m to
the point where “Henry Gale” has entered the Hatch and is now playing mind games
with Jack & Locke. Oh, how I’ve missed my Losties!!!

So glad that I have four more seasons  of “LOST” to rewatch…
So glad that I have a TV with a DVD in my studio!

I’ve always said “I like to play in the mud”…
so I’m starting the New Year with a big pile of mud!!!
I couldn’t decide what to do when I got into the studio today. So it was a bunch of cleaning
and organizing. Prepping for production to begin. Cleaning. Scrubbing. Refilling. Sweeping.
And “cookin’ up” some nice new clay…

Actually, it’s my latest pile of reclaim clay. Having slaked for a couple months over the
holidays, it’s all nice a gooey and ready to start turning it back into clay. So today I turned
it all out onto a large plaster slab to get the drying process started. A couple days on the slab,
and my clay should be “sturdy” enough to start wedging it back up into some nice “new” clay.
And then the possibilities are endless… and I love “free” clay!!

Tonight is the Lillstreet Holiday Open House Party from 6:00-10:00pm
to kick-off the holiday shopping season. The studios are all decked out and
stocked up for the eager shoppers! Including mine…

The group of artists who share the spaces in Studio 205 West at Lillstreet Art Center
will be open for holiday shopping every weekend through Christmas! So stop by for our
scheduled hours, or throughout the week if one of the artists happens to be around working.
Saturdays 10:00am-6:00pm and Sundays 10:00am-5:00pm.
Even if I’m not in the studio, any of the other studio artists can help you with your transaction.

So I’ve finally scheduled my next soda kiln firing for Wednesday, November 10th.
Now I’m trying to make all of the work I’ll need to fill it. And to be ready for
my Holiday Home Show which is now just four weeks away! So tonight I stamped,
and stamped, and stamped… larger bowls and smaller cups to become votives.
Looks like tomorrow I might have a LOT of trimming to do?!

Another productive day at the studio.
Had to do something with all those cylinders, huh?!
So I turned them into mugs over the course of this afternoon.

Cylinders stamped. Next step… trimming of the bottoms.

Handles pulled. Setting up a bit waiting to be attached…

Handles attached. Now they look like actual mugs!!!

Slip accents painted. Mugs finished… now drying for an upcoming bisque kiln!

One of the these days, I REALLY need to spend some quality time in the studio!
I need to get my act together and start making more pots!… real soon!
But it’s just so incredibly beautiful outside… I need to play outside!!!

This Friday night, the Lillstreet Studio Artists are hosting a BIG STUDIO SALE!!!
We all have a lot of pots, class demos & miscellaneous projects to clear out. So why not
put them on sale and throw a party?! To kick off the Ravenswood Art Walk Weekend,
the studio artists are holding their first  “White Table Cloth Sale”… and no,
we’re not selling table cloths!!! Basically, everything displayed in the studios
on a white table cloth is on sale! So simple! Great pots at great prices!

Lillstreet Studio Artists – 4401 North Ravenswood, 2nd & 3rd floors
Friday, October 1st from 4:00pm-8:00pm

Since I will be out of town, and up in the Northwoods, this weekend… I set up my
“white-table clothed-table” tonight with over 35 pieces all marked down at huge savings!
And I focused on BOWLS, BOWLS and more BOWLS!!!

So stop by this weekend to snatch up some great deals on some great pots! And take
some time to do the Ravenswood Art Walk while you’re there. There are quite a few
“hidden gem” studios up & down Ravenswood  – all open to the public for the weekend.
Stop by and meet the artists in their own studios!

I stopped in to the studio to check on my kiln… and it was still above 600 degrees!
I pulled the peeps – and now I’m hoping that the kiln cools quickly overnight.
My plan is to go back early in the morning to unload if possible?! I’d like to get it
emptied and bring all of the new “monsters” home so I can price & pack them
for this weekend’s art fair!

This afternoon after camp, my 5-year old niece Taylor stopped by the studio
to play in the clay along with my sister Jen (her mom), and my parents. It was
a special afternoon as she was working in clay, creating her own plates before she
heads off for her big adventure into starting Kindergarten! Taylor has been learning
to cook in the kitchen and loves to have people over so she can make lunch. So I
decided that she needs her own set of plates & bowls to serve her food on. We all worked
hard to make an 8-piece set of textured terra cotta plates & bowls. I made the slabs,
she did the textures, my mom helped slump them into the molds and my dad trimmed
off the extra clay. They all worked on the smoothing & painting… all with Taylor’s
design guidance and insistence!!!

And I’m sure you’ve already noticed… how adorable my niece & sister look in their
vibrant tie-dye shirts! You know how I loves me tie-dye!!!

After the plates were finished & painted, we had another quick tour of Lillstreet,
chatted with a few of my previous students (thanks Patrick), and looked at the kilns
and my studio. Then we headed off for dinner at Superdawg. Followed by a not-so-quick
18-holes of miniature golf. Considering it was only her second time golfing, she did
extremely well – and remained relatively focused & alert during the game!

So today after camp, I stuck around and worked in the studio.
At first I was planning on going for another bike ride between camp
& my evening adult class, but it was far too hot & humid outside…
and my studio has air conditioning! So made the easy decision to stay
in the cool air and finish up a dozen mugs that were waiting for handles!